Samer Issawi : “I refused water not for love of death but for freedom and dignity”

Shireen Issawi, the sister of Palestinian detainee Samer Issawi who is on a months-long hunger strike against his imprisonment by the Israeli occupation forces, reported on Wednesday that her brother had successfully thwarted Israeli attempts to coerce him to end his hunger strike.

According to Shireen,  an intelligence officer of the Occupation forces on Tuesday threatened Samer inside the Kaplan Medical Center, that he would make Samer regret his continued hunger strike, and his refusal to accept a deportation deal that was offered to him last week. In the threat, he didn’t specify what methods he would use, but soon afterwards several measures of harassment were initiated.

The number of prison guards was increased from 3 to 7, who started eating and drinking abundantly in front of him. On top of this, his feet were shackled also during visits to the bathroom, instead of only in bed. In response, Samer announced that he would now refuse water and vitamins in protest against these measures, in addition to his continuing refusal of food, which today entered its 235th day. He insisted that he would continue to demand his freedom and his return to Jerusalem.

After 48 hours, the Israelis succumbed to his protest, and ended the provocative measures. A victory for Samer Issawi against the occupation forces, which will hopefully continue into a complete victory in his battle against injustice, and result in his return to Jerusalem and to his family in health and freedom.